WW2 Veteran Junior Officer George A Forbes, British Merchant Navy

[Douglas Cerretti]

Hello, my name is Douglas Cerretti and I am a member of Post 227 of The American Legion in Shoreline, WA USA. This is my first post. A fellow member recently gave a talk at our Heroes Café Shoreline in Shoreline, WA. He is WW2 veteran Junior Officer George A Forbes, British Merchant Navy. Below is a link to an article I wrote about George’s talk for the e-newspaper Shoreline Area News. Briefly, George was commissioned at age 16 in 1941 and was assigned to the Dutch merchant ship Pieter de Hooch and his first action was on the Arctic Convoy PQ-16 in 1942. However, due to staffing shortages, PQ-16 sailed without them. When enough seaman came on board, the Pieter de Hooch joined PQ-17. There doesn’t seem to be a record of this and George has said he has never seen a correct accounting of PQ-17. George sailed continuously until the wars end in 1945. He has received the Atlantic Star, the 1939-1945 Star and a few years ago the Arctic Star. Please read the article and I am interested in your comments. BTW: George will be 100 years young in January. Cheers.
https://www.shorelineareanews.com/20...er-george.html

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Douglas
Thank you for posting this interesting Article, it is the sort of thing that we always look forward to reading on this site.
Like so many other Young Seaman, he has a good past and of course till this day we always thank those who served .
Much appreciated
Cheers

[Douglas Cerretti]

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[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Douglas.
The Merchant seamen who sailed during the war where real Hero's, but the men who sailed on the Arctic Convoys were even more so, has George applied for the Ukinove Medal? awarded to all merchant seamen who sailed on ships to Russia? it was struck by the Russian Govt especially to thank those brave men. My brother was a seaman in the MN during that time, gone now but always remembered.
Please give George my congratulations on reaching his Hundred.
Des

[Douglas Cerretti]

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Two Russian metals George has received. He also received a signed letter from Vladimir Putin.

[Brenda Shackleton]

Hello Douglas
The medal on the left is the USHAKOV. First awarded in 1944 and eventually awarded to Arctic Veterans in 2016. This was because our government do not recognise the awarding of foreign medals in the UK. An exception was made in this case for the Arctic Veterans.
The Russians only awarded them to the Survivors of he Russian Convoys; not posthumously. So, my Dad who rescued the Crew of the Russian ship STALINGRAD in PQ18 13th September 1942 was not eligible.
Brenda

[Douglas Cerretti]

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[Doc Vernon]

As many will see i have taken the Posts that are not regarded as following this Thread, and moved it here.
Things that happen
One again i must PLEAD that any good Thread not be spoilt by off Topic replies!
Please adhere this request, and start a New Thread if need be for any off topic replies to Merchant Navy Threads!

Pretty Please!!!
Thank You

[Brenda Shackleton]

Hello Douglas
i hope that you don't mind my saying but some of these medals and stars are a bit mixed up...
# 1 = Ushakov medal. Russian. That's OK
#2. = Arctic Star. That's OK
#3.Ribbon belongs to medal 1939-1945 War medal and should be with medal on extreme right # 6
4.Looks like the Atlantic Star which belongs with ribbon # 5 (also on your first photo beside the Ushakov)
The ribbon on # 4 is definitely Russian- Great Patriotic War medal awarded 40 years after the War., Should be with # 5 which looks like a Russian medal.

Hope that you don't take offence Douglas. These things are easily confused so I hope that this helps.
Best wishes
Brenda

[Douglas Cerretti]

No worries. This is how George has the metals/ribbons and they were probably mixed up over the last 80 years.What is the #6 medal?